Attention Frenchies!

Just in case you didn’t know, this weekend is the Festival du Bois in Maillardville, Coquitlam (www.festivaldubois.ca). It is running on March 1 & 2 at Mackin Park in Coquitlam. This is not on any really good bus routes, but is probably not too bad to get to from either Braid or Lougheed Skytrain stations.

There are plenty of shows happening, as well as activities for kids. See their website for more information.

I mention the Festival du Bois because I will be going there for one reason – and one reason only! POUTINE! Yes, of course, that greasy, delicious, quebecois delicacy that millions of people are disgusted by!

I happen to like fries (I have the same friendship with them that I have with most deep-fried foods). I also like gravy, it is so warm and salty and comforting. And I can’t tell you how much I love cheese curds. They are chewy and melty and they squeak when you bite them.

Only one thing could be better than having poutine: Having poutine in the same day as having tourtiere and maple sugar pie.

Tourtiere is French-Canadian meat pie. Meat and pie, together in one; need I say more?

Maple sugar pie is exactly what it sounds like: sugar pie, but with maple. I have heard it compared to butter tarts, which I don’t think is entirely accurate. I would say that it is more like a pie-shell filled with home-made fudge.

So that is where I will be this weekend, in the line-up at the poutine tent at the Festival du Bois in Maillardville.